Will the Jayhawks Stay on Top? A KU Big 12 Preview

The Kansas Jayhawks will open up big 12 play Friday night against the Texas Longhorns. They look to capture their 14th straight big 12 title, which would break the record for consecutive conference championships. Currently, the Jayhawks 13 year run is tied with John Wooden’s UCLA squad.

The Big 12 is a lot better than in years past. With 6 top 25 teams, and the conference having two more teams receiving votes. The Jayhawks streak is as close to being in jeopardy as it has ever been. With KU already dropping a pair of games to an unranked Washington squad, and a more understandable loss to the number 3 ranked team in the nation, the Arizona State Sun Devils, some no longer view the Jayhawks as the favorites in the big 12. Since then, the Jayhawks have taken care of lowly Omaha, and dominated a Stanford team on the road.

The Jayhawks lack depth as of this moment. However, they will get stronger as the season rolls on which is scary for the Big 12. The number 11 ranked team will add some much needed backcourt help when Silvio De Sousa clears through the NCAA clearinghouse once the NCAA returns from Holiday break per KU coach Bill Self. Billy Preston, will also add some help downlow and should be back “Soon”. Bill Self remains optimistic he will rejoin the team after being sidelined due to needing a “clearer financial picture” on a car Preston was driving when he was involved in a one car accident earlier this season.

Kansas is 17th in adjusted offensive efficiency according to KenPom which trails TCU and Oklahoma in the Big 12 thus far. Kansas is ranked 8th in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom, which is behind the Texas Longhorns and Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Big 12.

Here is what the Big 12 slate looks like for the Jayhawks, accompanied by MY projected W/L for them: